The criteria reviewed covered 2 types of statements: (1) medications or medication classes that should generally be avoided in persons 65 years or older because they are either ineffective or they pose unnecessarily high risk for older persons and a safer alternative is available and (2) medications that should not be used in older persons known to have specific medical conditions.

Results: This study identified 48 individual medications or classes of medications to avoid in older adults and their potential concerns and 20 diseases/conditions and medications to be avoided in older adults with these conditions. PY - 2003/12/8Y1 - 2003/12/8N2 - Background: Medication toxic effects and drug-related problems can have profound medical and safety consequences for older adults and economically affect the health care system.

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TOXIC EFFECTS of medications and drug-related problems can have profound medical and safety consequences for older adults and economically effect the health care system.

Of these potentially inappropriate drugs, 66 were considered by the panel to have adverse outcomes of high severity. The purpose of this initiative was to revise and update the Beers criteria for potentially inapropriate medication use in adults 65 years and older in the United States.

Conclusions: This study is an important update of previously established criteria that have been widely used and cited. Methods: This study used a modified Delphi method, a set of procedures and methods for formulating a group judgment for a subject matter in which precise information is lacking.